Webpad and method for using the same

• US 20020178279A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viviana Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Viviana Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Janik, Craig M., Ferguson, Joshua W., Kalayjian, Nick R., Edwards, Bruce P.
• Application Number:
  US10/125,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A webpad and method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, information is determined about primary content being played on an audio device using a computer system Ancillary data is obtained relating to the primary content based on the information about the primary content. The ancillary data is automatically sent to the webpad for access therefrom as the primary content is being played on the audio device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

streaming data from a computer system;

receiving the streamed data using a wireless interface of a communication adapter module of a personal digital assistant that is part of a webpad; and

playing the streamed data on the webpad while simultaneously receiving additional streamed data, wherein at least a portion of streamed data is ancillary data relating to primary data being played on an audio device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining the data prior to streaming from a location using an application on the computer system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the application is a system control application on the computer system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the location is Internet.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the location is a database on the computer system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

inputting information using a user interface on the webpad to specify the data that is to be streamed from the computer system.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

manipulating the audio device using the webpad via wireless transmission.

8. A method of transferring ancillary data to a webpad comprising:

determining information about primary content being played on an audio device;

obtaining the ancillary data relating to the primary content based on the information; and

automatically sending the ancillary data to the webpad for access therefrom as the primary content is being played on the audio device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining information about primary content being played on the audio device further comprises:

inputting the information on a user interface on the webpad; and

sending the information to a first application on the computer system.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein obtaining the ancillary data relating to the primary content based on the information includes accessing the ancillary data using a second application on the computer system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first application is a system control application.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second application is an online lookup application.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the ancillary data includes a text description of the primary content being played on the audio device.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the ancillary data is additional data relating to the primary content being played on the audio device.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the audio device is an audio converter device.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the audio device is a stereo.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the computer system includes a system control application to determine information about primary content being played on an audio device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer system includes an online lookup application to obtain ancillary data relating to the primary content based on the information about the primary content.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the ancillary data includes a text description of the primary content being played on the audiovisual device.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the ancillary data is additional data relating to the primary content being played on the audiovisual device.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the adapter module includes a wireless transceiver.

17. A system comprising:

a local area network (LAN);

a webpad communicably coupled to the LAN and including an adapter module attached to a personal digital assistant; and

a computer system coupled to the LAN, wherein the computer system streams audio data to the adapter module via a wireless transmission.